Masters 2021: 'There is no law against playing safe' - Foulds and White urge Un-Nooh to rein it in

ByEnis Koylu

Updated 11/01/2021 at 18:47 GMT

Eurosport pundits Neal Foulds and Jimmy White have urged Thepchaiya Un-Nooh to add more defensive variety to his game after his entertaining loss to Stuart Bingham in the first round of the 2021 Masters. Foulds believes that the 35-year-old is in danger of failing to realise his potential.

Thepchaiya Un-Nooh must curb his attacking enthusiasm if he is to make it as a top-level snooker player, according to Eurosport's Jimmy White and Neal Foulds.

Un-Nooh is popular with snooker viewers for his brisk style of play, which was on display as he rattled off three straight frames in the first round of the Masters against Stuart Bingham to go from a 5-1 deficit to 5-4.

His hot streak came to a halt in the 10th frame, with Bingham eventually winning the encounter. His performance left Foulds and White baffled in the Eurosport studio after the match.

World Championship

Bingham recovers from horror miss to down Wilson

22/04/2024 at 21:28

• Bingham sees off Un-Nooh comeback to kick off Masters defence

White said: "It's annoying. It's a bit like Jack Lisowski. Me and Neal were so impressed with him in his last couple of tournaments, maybe he's turned a corner a bit.

"But with Un-Nooh, he plays in the Q House in Darlington, he plays lots of good players. There's a good coach there, Mike Dunn, I don't know if he works with him. But he needs to make it easer for himself. His natural instinct is that, once he starts winning the easy way, he will zone in a bit, he will play his shots with a bit more value.

At the moment, he's playing too many shots with no value at all.

'I wouldn't know where to start with him' - White and Foulds on Un-Nooh

When asked whether he would fancy the job of coaching Un-Nooh himself, Foulds added: "I wouldn't know where to start with him. He can only win in that one way.

"Jack Lisowski is a better player than Thepchaiya. He beat Mark Selby in the tournament before Christmas. Lisowski might have turned the corner, he's not here this week.

"I don't think you put someone like Thepchaiya against Mark Selby. He'd have to knock everything in to beat him. Certain players he's not going to beat. I don't know what you'd do with him, I just like to enjoy watching him.

"He's always going to frustrate you. He's not quite going to get there, play brilliantly, but not get over the line. That seems to be what he's all about.

There is no law against playing safe, you are allowed to.

German Masters

Trump makes three centuries in dominant win over Thepchaiya at German Masters

01/02/2024 at 23:23

Scottish Open

Zhou denies inspired Bingham comeback to advance in Edinburgh, Wilson whitewashes Wakelin

15/12/2023 at 18:16

World Championship

Ding carves out slender lead over Vafaei, Bingham reaches last 16 by beating Gilbert

16/04/2023 at 15:07